malachite green - effect on bacteria

W

Waps

AC Members
Feb 28, 2007
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Adelaide, South Australia
I recently had a dwarf gourami with a fungus infection so I used fungus-ade to cure him which did stop the infection getting worse and since has stopped and I using melafix to help regrowth the damage.

I can't remember exactly how long after maybe 6 days I got a Nitrite boom 0.5.

This was 2 weeks ago now.

Since then I have done some research and found out that malachite green is active ingredient in fungus-ade and eats away at the bacteria in the tank.
This is what obviously caused the Nitrite boom.

Is there a way to help avoid this boom as I have just added it again last night. I will be testing the water everday and if I notice it sparks I will do 50% water change plus add Prime http://www.nextag.com/Seachem-Prime-Freshwater-Saltwater-505783806/prices-html
Then I will check the next day and repeat if required.
Hopefully this won't effect the fish too much.

I think in future I will isolate the affected fish in a small tank by itself before applying fungus-ade.
 
I have always used maroxy by mardel to treat fungal problems. It has always worked well and never harmed the bio.

If you want to keep using your current med, I agree that use of an H tank is a good idea.
 
Did you do the recommended 50+% WC within 24 hours of application, 3 days repeat dosage, WC, etc.?

Also, did you remove any carbon filtration?

I've not had an issue myself.
 
I would use the medication exactly the way it says to use it and make sure there is no carbon running in the filters. Sometimes some of the good bacteris is killed off during the medicating process and there is not much you can do about it other then using a quarentine tank to treat the fish. This way the main display will not be affected. If you do a water change during the process with the meds. then it will dilute the meds. and they will be less effective. (unless it says of course to do a water change during the treatment.) I would strongly recommend the use of a quarentine tank. This way you treat only the sick fish and there is less risk that the other fish are affected from the sick fish. It will also provide some peace and quiet for the sick fish so he can try to get well without being bothered by other fish that may want to pick on him.

Marinemom
 
ct-death said:
Did you do the recommended 50+% WC within 24 hours of application, 3 days repeat dosage, WC, etc.?

Also, did you remove any carbon filtration?

I've not had an issue myself.
Click to expand...

I don't have a carbon filter, I have an under gravel.
I will try find the web site that told me about the bacteria tonight when I get home I will check my internet history to find it.
 
http://www.tropicalfishcentre.co.uk/Diseases1.htm

Quote:\
A word of warning with using medication: Obviously people want to save their fish, so they go and buy a product, and sometimes these can be quite effective. But a word of warning - some meds can be very detrimental in the long term. Treatments whitch use Malachite Green and Methylene Blue can be useful treatments for parasites and Fungus, unfortunately they can destroy our beneficial bacteria, and then you can get a Ammoni/Nitrite peak for some time. Also some meds demand it that they remove Carbon/Zeolite for the duration of the treatment - this can effectively start up a mini-cycle as the Carbon/Zeolite have lost their bacteria.
 
I never doubted you bro ;)

I was just recalling the 50% WC that they recommend within 24 hours of treatment, which is designed to allow the meds to be affective, but alleviate the "long-term" detrimental effects that this can have on your system.

Just keep an eye out on your readings. Besides, the cleaner the water the better the fish will heal, and have been known to own their own quite effectively.

Good luck!
 
ct-death said:
I never doubted you bro ;)

I was just recalling the 50% WC that they recommend within 24 hours of treatment, which is designed to allow the meds to be affective, but alleviate the "long-term" detrimental effects that this can have on your system.

Just keep an eye out on your readings. Besides, the cleaner the water the better the fish will heal, and have been known to own their own quite effectively.

Good luck!
Click to expand...

Thats cool mate cheers

Fungus-ade direstions 5ml/250L, remove carbon during treatment, maintain aeration and filtration, do not use more than once every 4 days basically that is it noting about water change.

Although I think a water change after 4 days wouldn't hurt.
 
Ahh...I have a different Brand Medication (active ingredient is Malachite Green). When treating fish, I'm always scared of doing something wrong so I'm the type of person who tests twice and then a third time to make I didn't mess it up the first two! :p

Luckily I've not had any spikes...
 
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